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SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 13, 2026, 12:46 am

“Local radio, however, has struggled since streaming music put nearly every song ever recorded on your phone, and podcasts have largely replaced traditional talk radio.
That change in how people consume audio content has contributed to the May 10 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of Spanish Broadcast System (SBS).

Spotify and Apple Music killed the radio star”

Link below, really good article, with fact, no fluff and written to be read by non radio people.

Z

Link: Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Re: SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 13, 2026, 10:54 am, in reply to "SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy"

I suspect 107.9 La Ley will remain on the air under SBS, but with staffing cuts like what Audacy and iHeart had?

Re: SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Posted by noknownuser <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=noknownuser' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 13, 2026, 11:08 am, in reply to "Re: SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy"

I think the burning question is how they can survive in Chicago with just one station, especially with Univision’s two big FM's across the street ,WOJO and WPPN?

Re: SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 13, 2026, 2:13 pm, in reply to "Re: SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy"

I think the burning question is how they can survive in Chicago with just one station, especially with Univision’s two big FM's across the street ,WOJO and WPPN?

Word! Actually, it has been like that for years since they jettisoned the 92.5 and 92.7 combo they bought from BCR.

Ultimately, SBS will sell. They are too small an entity (around 20 stations and 5 markets) and the share of listeners is decreasing, if it is bad now, it will only get worse overall for them financially. They will end up selling like Salem did, no matter how successful and a good competitor the FISH format was against KLOVE. SBS is exiting TV to help reduce debt, their radio network will not save them, same with their APPS.

Even Univision is not what they once were in the market and overall as a company. Radio centric companies are shrinking, quickly.

Z

Re: SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 13, 2026, 1:58 pm, in reply to "Re: SBS - Another major broadcaster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy"

I suspect 107.9 La Ley will remain on the air under SBS, but with staffing cuts like what Audacy and iHeart had?

Si.

But they are already running on shoestrings.

Z

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